Wildcat D via Wildcat Ridge Trail

The Wildcat D via Wildcat Ridge Trail is 4.0 miles round trip, starting at Glen Ellis Falls Parking (Route 16). At AMC book time (half the distance in hours plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing), that works out to roughly 2-4 hours. Most parties take longer than book time on rough or above-treeline terrain, in winter, or with a heavy pack.

The Wildcat D via Wildcat Ridge Trail climbs about 2,173 ft over 4.0 miles, an average of roughly 544 ft of gain per mile. That figure is cumulative ascent across the whole out-and-back, not the difference between the trailhead and the high point.

HikerNerd rates the Wildcat D via Wildcat Ridge Trail Hard on a six-tier scale from Easy to Most demanding. The rating comes from the route itself: its 4.0 miles, 2,173 ft of gain, and the steepest quarter mile of trail, with routes known for scrambles or ledges rated a step harder. It is the same scale our NH 4,000-footer difficulty ranking uses. Above-treeline exposure, water crossings, and winter conditions can still make a well-rated route the hardest day of your year, so check current conditions before committing.

The Wildcat D via Wildcat Ridge Trail summits 1 named peak: Wildcat Mountain (D Peak).

The Wildcat D via Wildcat Ridge Trail starts at Glen Ellis Falls Parking (Route 16). Check the trail alerts on this page before you drive: trailhead access and parking in the White Mountains change with closures and construction.